VA awards $2.15M for STMP TMP SERVICES to University of Michigan, a sole-source contract
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $2,150,797 ($2.2M)
Contractor: Regents of the University of Michigan
Awarding Agency: Department of Veterans Affairs
Start Date: 2023-01-01
End Date: 2025-12-31
Contract Duration: 1,095 days
Daily Burn Rate: $2.0K/day
Competition Type: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Other
Official Description: STMP TMP SERVICES
Place of Performance
Location: ANN ARBOR, WASHTENAW County, MICHIGAN, 48105
State: Michigan Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Veterans Affairs obligated $2.2 million to REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN for work described as: STMP TMP SERVICES Key points: 1. Contract value is $2.15 million over 3 years. 2. Sole-source award to a university raises competition concerns. 3. Potential risk of inflated pricing due to lack of competition. 4. Services likely support higher education or research functions.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
Pricing is difficult to assess without competitive benchmarks. As a sole-source award to a university, it's unclear if the price reflects market value or if it's a cost-plus arrangement with potential for overruns.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
The contract was awarded on a sole-source basis, indicating no competition. This limits price discovery and may lead to higher costs for taxpayers.
Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition for this $2.15 million contract means taxpayers may not be receiving the best possible value.
Public Impact
Veterans may benefit indirectly through improved university services or research. Taxpayer funds are directed to a specific academic institution. Transparency in sole-source awards is crucial for public trust.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Sole-source award
- Lack of competition
- Potential for overpricing
Positive Signals
- Contract supports educational/research mission
- Clear contract duration
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under the 'Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools' NAICS code. Spending in this sector often involves research, development, and specialized training services, with pricing varying widely based on the nature of the services.
Small Business Impact
There is no indication that small businesses were involved in this sole-source award. The focus appears to be on a specific academic institution.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight is needed to ensure the services provided are necessary and that the pricing is reasonable, despite the sole-source nature of the award.
Related Government Programs
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools
- Department of Veterans Affairs Contracting
- Department of Veterans Affairs Programs
Risk Flags
- Sole-source award limits competition.
- Potential for inflated pricing.
- Lack of transparency in service details.
- No clear benefit to small businesses.
- Questionable value for taxpayer money without competitive bidding.
Tags
colleges-universities-and-professional-s, department-of-veterans-affairs, mi, definitive-contract, 1m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Veterans Affairs awarded $2.2 million to REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN. STMP TMP SERVICES
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Veterans Affairs (Department of Veterans Affairs).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $2.2 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2023-01-01. End: 2025-12-31.
What specific 'STMP TMP SERVICES' are being procured, and how do they directly benefit the VA's mission?
The specific nature of 'STMP TMP SERVICES' is not detailed in the provided data. Further investigation is required to understand if these services are critical to the VA's core functions, such as research, training, or administrative support. Without this clarity, assessing the true value and necessity of the $2.15 million expenditure is challenging.
What justification was provided for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis instead of seeking competitive bids?
The justification for a sole-source award is critical for understanding potential risks. Typically, sole-source contracts are used when only one vendor can provide the required goods or services. For a university, this might relate to unique research capabilities or existing infrastructure. However, the VA must demonstrate that no other qualified entity could fulfill the requirement to ensure fair pricing and taxpayer value.
How will the VA ensure cost-effectiveness and accountability for a $2.15 million contract awarded without competition?
Ensuring cost-effectiveness in a sole-source contract requires robust oversight. The VA should implement stringent monitoring of deliverables, performance metrics, and expenditures. Regular audits and reviews of the university's cost structure may be necessary to validate the pricing. Establishing clear milestones and payment schedules tied to performance can also enhance accountability and mitigate risks associated with non-competitive awards.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Educational Services › Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools › Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools
Product/Service Code: MEDICAL SERVICES › MEDICAL, DENTAL, AND SURGICAL SVCS
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE
Solicitation ID: 36C25020R0110
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 503 THOMPSON ST, ANN ARBOR, MI, 48109
Business Categories: Category Business, Educational Institution, Government, Higher Education, U.S. National Government, Not Designated a Small Business, Higher Education (Public), U.S. Regional/State Government
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $4,717,184
Exercised Options: $2,150,797
Current Obligation: $2,150,797
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Timeline
Start Date: 2023-01-01
Current End Date: 2025-12-31
Potential End Date: 2027-12-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-03-31
More Contracts from Regents of the University of Michigan
- "igf::ot::igf" Other Functions - Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (cygnss) Mission - the Cygnss Mission Proposal WAS Selected Under the Nasa Announcement of Opportunity Nnh11zda012o for the Earth Venture -2 (EV-2) Element of the Earth System Science Pathfinder (essp) Program Offices' Earth Venture Line. the Cygnss Mission IS a Class D Science Investigation. the Cygnss Mission Goal IS to Understand the Coupling Between Ocean Surface Properties, Moist Atmospheric Thermodynamics, Radiation, and Convective Dynamics in the Inner Core of Tropical Cyclones (TCS). the Goal Directly Supports the Nasa Strategic Objective to Enable Improved Predictive Capability for Weather and Extreme Weather Events. Near-Surface Winds ARE Major Contributors to and Indicators of Momentum and Energy Fluxes AT the Air/Sea Interface. Understanding the Coupling Between the Surface Winds and the Moist Atmosphere Within the TC Inner Core IS KEY to Properly Modeling and Forecasting ITS Genesis and Intensification. of Particular Interest IS the Lack of Significant Improvement in Storm Intensity Forecasts Over the Past TWO Decades, Relative to Forecasts of Storm Track. Advances in Tract Forecast Have Resulted in Large Part From the Improvements That Have Been Made in Observations and Modeling of the Mesoscale and Synoptic Environment Surrounding a TC. the Hypothesis IS That the Lack of an Accompanying Improvement in Intensity Forecast IS Largely DUE to a Lack of Observations and Proper Modeling of the TC Inner Core. the Inadequacy in Observations Results From TWO Causes. 1. Much of the Inner Core Ocean Surface IS Obscured From Conventional Remote Sensing Instruments by Intense Precipitation in the EYE Wall and Inner Rain Bands. 2. the Rapidly Evolving Genesis and Intensification Stages of the TC Life Cycle ARE Poorly Sampled by Conventional Polar-Orbiting, Wide-Swat Imagers. Cygnss Addresses These TWO Limitations by Combining the All-Weather Performance of Gps-Based Bistatic Scatterometry With the Spatial and Temporal Sampling Properties of a Constellation of Observatories. the Constellation Consists of Individual GPS Surface Reflection Receivers Flown on 8 Nanosatellites. This Provides the Ability to Measure the Ocean Surface Winds With Unprecedented Temporal Resolution and Spatial Coverage Under ALL Precipitating Conditions, UP to and Including Those Experienced in the Hurricane Eyewall. Cygnss Achieves ITS Goal Using Innovative Applications of Existing Technologies, Laboratory Tested and Verified in a Relevant Environment, to Avoid the Risks Inherent With NEW Technologies — $116.1M (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)
- TAS::75 0943::TAS National Survey of Family Growth — $45.7M (Department of Health and Human Services)
- Other Medical Services — $37.9M (Department of Health and Human Services)
- Naval Engineering Education Center; Increase Number of Graduates in the Field of Naval Engineering — $28.4M (Department of Defense)
- Safety Pilot Model Deployment of Vehicle to Vehicle and Vehicle to Infrastructure Safety Applications — $24.8M (Department of Transportation)
View all Regents of the University of Michigan federal contracts →
Other Department of Veterans Affairs Contracts
- CCN Region 3 Express Report — $5.2B (Optum Public Sector Solutions, Inc.)
- Express Report for FY22 Region 2 — $5.1B (Optum Public Sector Solutions, Inc.)
- Fiscal Year 2022 Express Report for Region 1 — $4.2B (Optum Public Sector Solutions, Inc.)
- Express Report for the Patient Centered Community Care (PC3) Contract — $3.3B (Triwest Healthcare Alliance Corp)
- CCN Region Three FY21 Express Report — $3.1B (Optum Public Sector Solutions, Inc.)